"Why are you here?!"
Just as Gloriosa was racking her brains, a haughty, annoyed voice rang out from behind her.
It was Hancock, who had already woken up.
She wore a coat, bandages wrapped around her ample chest. Her delicate face was deathly pale, making her look frail—but her lethality was on the level of a missile.
Hancock disliked the old woman.
That had to do with the grudges between the successive empresses of Nine Snake Island.
"You're awake."
"How's Marigold?"
Gloriosa came to her senses and stood up. She didn't even reach Hancock's thigh.
She was every bit as short and ugly as people said.
"She's still asleep."
When Gloriosa asked about Marigold, Hancock's expression softened a little, but her eyes were still filled with sorrow.
"Has Sonia come back?"
Hancock's voice trembled.
Though she already knew the answer, she still wanted Gloriosa to smile and tell her Sandersonia had returned too, instead of—
Gloriosa's expression gradually stiffened.
She fell silent.
"Sonia stayed behind so Marigold and I could escape."
Hancock swayed, then stumbled over to the throne and sat down. She couldn't help covering her face with both hands, sobbing as she murmured, "It's all my fault. If I hadn't insisted on going after them, Sonia wouldn't have..."
At that moment,
all of Hancock's pride had been shattered.
Sandersonia was the sister who had grown up with her. They had endured nightmares together and sworn to protect Nine Snake Island.
But now she had lost her for good.
Regret.
That was all Hancock felt now.
If she hadn't provoked Queen of Luck, if she hadn't chased after her, then none of this would have happened.
Cough, cough—
Hancock's breathing turned ragged. She couldn't help coughing up blood, and her face grew even paler.
"Hancock."
"Don't get worked up."